Seven Packers plus Vikings' Allen chosen for Pro Bowl

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Seven Green Bay Packers were named last night to the Pro Bowl. That's the most for the Pack since 1971, when the NFC first started playing the AFC.

Aaron Rodgers was the top vote-getter by the fans, and he was chosen as the NFC's starting quarterback. Fullback John Kuhn, corner Charles Woodson, and linebacker Clay Matthews were also named as starters. Nose tackle B.J. Raji, receiver Greg Jennings, and center Scott Wells were named as NFC backups.

The Packers and Baltimore had the second-highest number of Pro Bowl selections. San Francisco and New England each had one more, with eight. This is the first time Rodgers was chosen as a starter, even though he opened the 2009 Pro Bowl due to injuries. It's the fourth straight year Woodson was picked to start. Matthews became the first Packer since John Brockington in the 1970's to be named to the Pro Bowl in his first three NFL seasons. Kuhn, Raji, and Wells were picked for the first time.

The Pro Bowl game will be played January 29th in Honolulu. But if the Packers make the Super Bowl, they won't be there for the second straight year. The Super Bowl is the week after the All-Star game.

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is headed to his fourth Pro Bowl next month in Hawaii. Allen leads the NFL with 18-and-a-half sacks and four fumble recoveries and needs three more sacks to break Chris Doleman's franchise record of 21. He also tied the NFL record with his fourth career safety this season. Minnesota's Adrian Peterson was one of the top vote-getters in the NFC at running back before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Tags: proam, football, packers, vikings